Signal-lantern



(Nmodel.) f 2 sheets-sheet 1'. W. S. HAMM. SIGNAL LANTBRN.

No. 553,462. Patented Jan. 21, 1896.

(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. S. HAMM. SIGNAL LANTQRN. Y

N0.'5 53,462. Patented Jan. 21, 1896.

NTTED `STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVIILIAM S. HAMM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL-LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,462, dated January 21, 1896.' Application filed November 27, 1894. Serial NoK 530,173. (No model.)

T all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. HAMM, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Lanterns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. i

This invention is intended more particularly for use on electric, cable, and other motor cars, but may be otherwise employed, and to constitute a combined danger and classification signal.

It is usual to provide a signal-light to indicate the approach of the car, and also separate means whereby the elassication of the train of which the car forms a part as to route, street, number, or otherwise is designated; and the purpose of the present invention is to furnish a single device capable of performing these functions.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of my improved lantern. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section. Figs. 4 and 5 are details hereinafter described.

Similar letters and figures of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

l is the case of the lantern, which may be of any suitable construction, having a perforated ventilator tube 2 and a hood 3. A handle 4 is attached to a bail 5, secured to lugs 6 on the case. The front of the case l is perforated and provided with a rim 7 having a lens or plain glass 8, (herein shown as an eight-inch smooth-faced semaphore,) which is adapted to the correct focusin g-point with respect to the burner. (Indicated by 9.) The sides ofthe case l are represented by 10 l0, the latter being hinged to the case as a door. Each side is perforated, and has a tube or tubes extending toward the burner 9. These tubes are represented by 1l ll, each tube extending at an angle inward through a side of the case l, and also outside thereof to form a socket.

It will be seen that the inner end of each tube ll or lll is cut off so as to offer to the burner or flame an elongated or elliptical opening, the edges of which stand in a vertical line or plane parallel to the vertical center line or axis of the lamp and chimney, thus presenting an increased area of light-receiving surface, for, as the inner surfaces of the tubes are bright or burnished, an eifective reiiecting-surface is the result of this construction. The openings at the ends of the tubes ll l1il are arranged so that they shall be substantially opposite and in close proximity to the flame, and by their elongation they receive light from the entire length or height of the flame, the light thus collected, concentrated, and directed by reiiecting-surfaces of such extended area exerting greatly-improved results in the nature of the illumination produced and thrown outside the case from the lenses. the signal-lenses are brought above the horizontal axis of the front glass, and the signals exhibited by said lenses are m ore eifective and more easily distinguishable than would be the case if the signal-lenses were in or near the plane of the horizontal axis of the front glass. By the presentation of the long axes of the open ends of the tubes to the vertical line of the flame the illuminating effect of the full length of the flame is received within the tube, whereas if the short axes of the openings were so presented the result would obviously be different, and less light would be projected from the signal-lenses.

I am aware of street-car lamps in which side signals are displayed in substantially the plane of the horizontal axis of the front glass, the signal-tubes extending within the ease in such horizontal plane and presenting at their inner ends the short axes of elongated openings to the vertical line of the flame of the lamp, and to such a construction I make no claim, my invention diering therefrom in that the display of the front signals is in a plane above or away from that of the horizontal axis of the front glass, thus making such display more vivid, easily seen and more readily distinguishable than it would be were it given at or near the plane of the horizontal axis of the front glass. Besides this, in such constructions heretofore known the long axis of the elongated opening is not presented to the vertical center line of the flame, and therefore the illuminative effect of the full length of the flame is not utilized.

In addition to the advantages above mentioned as attending my invention the arrangement of the tubes within the case atan By the arrangement of tubes shown IOO angle produces greater compactness in construction in preventing unnecessary length of projection of the tubes from the casing.

lVithin each tube 11 11 is placed, telescopically, a tube, the pair being shown by 14 14, each having a bend or elbow 16 or 16n at its outer end, in which is inserted a bullseye or other lens, preferably of white glass. (For this construction see more particularly Fig. l.) The two bulls-eyes or lenses are shown by 17 17 a. In the lower end of either tube 11i or 14 is placed a piece of glass of any desired color, the said glasses being shown by 19 19f. The tubes 14 14a are held so that their elbows 16 16 shall extend at the proper angle, preferably so that the axes of the bullseyes or lenses shall stand in a horizontal plane by means of spring-catches 2O 20 secured to the outer surfaces of the sockets, the spring catches having each a pin 21 which passes through holes 22 and in the sockets and inner tubes, respectively. The outward movement of each spring-catch is limited by means of a yoke 2l. This feature is shown in Fig. 5.

The lamp proper (shown as a whole by A) used within the lantern may be of any suitable construction, and is here shown as embracing an oil-'receptacle 25, raised above the base 26 and supported bythe plate 27 and feet 2S, and as having an ordinary Argand burner, the wiel: of which is adapted to be raised by means of the usual wick-raising wheel operated through the medium of a head or button 29, situated within a depression 30 in the plate 27. The burner 9 is provided with an ordinary glass chimney 31. The lamp A, as a whole, is adapted to slide in ways 32 within the case 1 of the lantern and to be withdrawn therefrom through the medium of a hinged ring Vhen the lamp A is in place, the plate 27 which constitutes the end of the lamp fits against the flanged ends 34 of the case, the lower edge of the door lapping over said plate, so as to secure the lamp within the Case, said plate 27 and the door closing up one entire end thereof.

The lantern is furnished with hooks 35, by means of which it is secured to the car, and also with elastic buffers 36, which serve to hold it against the car in a manner reducing shock and jar.

The construction and arrangement of the front lens or semaphore 8 and the side tubes with their respective glasses and bulls-eyes or lenses afford a direct signal given ahead through t-he medium of the front lens or semaphore, as also classification signals, of the required colors, through the medium of the bulls-eyes or lenses, the bright interior surfaces of the tubes 11 11a reflecting the rays through the colored glasses to and through the tubes 14 14", and the bright interior surfaces of said tubes 14E 14: reflecting therays to and through the white bulls-eyes or lenses 17 17 at the outer ends of said tubes.

I do not limit myself to the character of the front lens or semaphore, or to the telescopic arrangement of the tubes 11 11 and 14 14, being evident that the tubular arrangement at each side of the case may be solid and lacking the telescopic character herein shown. It is evident that the glasses 19 19 within the tubes 14 1i may be omitted, and the bullseyes or lenses 17 17 made of glass of the requisite color, although the construction herein described is preferred. These and other details of construction may be dcparted from without affecting the general nature of my invention; but

lVhat I claim is- 1. In a lantern of the character described, the combination of a case, a lamp within the same and tubes extending downwardly from the exterior of said case within the same at an angle, the inner ends of said tubes being cut off in vertical planes parallel to the ver tical center or axial line of the lamp and burner, and the elongated openings at said inner ends of the tubes being situated at opposite sides of the burner, said tubes being each provided with a lens at its outer end; substantially as set forth.

2. In a lantern of the character described, the combination of a case, a lamp within the same and tubes extending downwardly from the exterior of said case within the same at an angle, the inner ends of said tubes being cut off in vertical planes parallel to the vertical center or aXial line of the lamp and burner, and the elongated openings at said inner ends of the tubes being situated at opposite sides of the burner, said tubes being each provided with a signal glass near its lower end and a lens at its outer end; substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof lhcreto set my hand and seal.

VILLIAM S. HAMM.

lOO 

